End of the year - and a big day!

Hello all and I hope that you've enjoyed your festive season, whatever you've been doing. I know it's not always an easy time for people, but it's also a chance to (hopefully) take some time out, relax and spend some time with family or friends.  I always find it's that although it can be a lovely, family time (and I know I probably go overboard with the "cosy home" ideal), it's also a time tinged with sadness as we think about the family or friends who aren't with us.  But New Year is a bit different, and hopefully a time to look forward, a "fresh start" and a year ahead full of possibilities!  And New Year's Eve is a slightly different sort of day in our house - as it's also my birthday! I've been spoilt by family and friends with lots of lovely cards and pressies.

Anyway, just thought I'd share a card - and not a Christmas card!

I've used a gorgeous LOTV stamp, coloured with copics and promarkers, with some added glamour dust (fairy wings wouldn't be the same without it!)

The backing papers and sentiment stamp are also from LOTV with flowers from WOC and ribbon from Joanna Sheen.

Hope you like it.

And I hope that you enjoy your New Year's Eve, whatever you may be doing. And that 2015 is a happy and healthy one for you.  And thank you for all your support and comments over the last year - they mean so much.

Back soon,

Kim x 

A fishy Christmas!

Hello all, I hope that Father Christmas came to call - and had some crafting goodies for you? We had a fairly quiet day yesterday, and it felt very strange not to have our daughter with us (I suppose the first time is always difficult!). But we all relaxed and did the usual thing of eating too much, not doing enough, etc. But our girlie joined us today and it was lovely to have a family lunch together! Now enjoying a quiet half hour before son returns from the Boxing Day football match he's been to - and then the whole shenanigans of food & washing up starts again....

My hubby and I usually just get each other small gifts for Christmas as the focus has always been the offspring - and when there are 4 to budget for (+ partners!) we're used to being bottom of the list lol! However, he has kindly bought me a set of 24 Graphit pens to play with and I am so looking forward to getting all the crafty goodies out again and doing some colouring. I have half a dozen Graphit markers and enjoy using them, so I'm hoping these will be as good!  I'll let you know.  My non-crafting friends would probably be totally confused as to how some alcohol markers can be so exciting...

Anyway, just thought I'd share yet another Christmas card, made for a colleague for her husband.  He is a VERY keen fisherman, and she wanted a Christmas card with fishing theme - something I think she'd have difficulty finding in a shop!

I've used a Bugaboo digi featuring the fabulous Gus, coloured with copics and Graphits (the few that I then had lol!). I've added glossy accents but I don't think it shows up on the pics

The backing papers are from LOTV, with an AllOccasions die cut sentiment. The ribbon and berries are from stash and the die cut holly leaves are using a Joanna Sheen signature die.

Hope you like it. 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Christmas break, whatever you may be doing. 

Thank you for all your support and comments - they are appreciated SO much! 

Back soon,
Kim x 

It's Christmas Eve!

Just to wish all my friends in Blogland a merry Christmas, whatever you have planned. And all good wishes for 2015 - may it be a peaceful, happy and healthy one.  Thank you for all your comments, good wishes and support through the last year - I hope we share many more crafty creations in the year ahead.

Kim x 

A Christmas Gift

Hello all - hope that you are all starting to relax and enjoy the festive season? Although I know that for many of us there's not much in the way of relaxation (i.e. stood in the kitchen a lot!). I'm gradually getting all the jobs done that I need to do, wrapping presents, stopping the cat dismantling the Christmas decorations, etc.  And I'm determined that I will shortly take up a serious layabout position on the sofa with a drink, chocolates to hand, some wool & a crochet hook and a easy-to-watch film on the tv!

I just thought I'd share a crochet bag that was made as an order for someone for a Christmas present.

I've made one of these before, with chunky wool and I love it! When I've done any craft fairs, it's one of the main things that people pick up and look at - and I recently got orders to make two of them. This one was for a present and I was asked if I could do the multi-coloured stripes, but with extra purple/pink/teal colours. 

I love the chunky texture - such a tactile bag! 

I've added a pretty flowery cotton lining, complete with a little pocket.

And of course, lots of flowers, leaves and buttons! 

The original pattern for the bag is on the fabulous Attic24 blog by the lovely Lucy - you can find it here. It's a great blog to go to for all sorts of woolly loveliness and a good splash of colour!

Hope you like it. And thank you for all the lovely comments - and a warm welcome to my new follower. I'm thrilled that you would like to follow my crafting journey!

Back soon,

Kim x 

Christmas fast approaching...

Where did that week go? I feel as if I've been on the go all week - and realised I hadn't posted for a week, so thought it was about time I got sat down with the laptop! A busy last week at school but thankfully finished now for 2 weeks - yippee! And hopefully a chance to relax and enjoy some family time.  I was busy trying to enforce 'Operation Tidy Up' at home and packing crafty goodies away as I got the spare room ready for daughter and boyfriend who landed back yesterday. So I have a house full once more, it feels like normal service has been resumed with bodies all over the house, a constant stream of food and drinks being produced (not to mention piles of washing up and queues for the bathroom lol!). They're here for a couple of days then spending Christmas day with Tom's mum - although Lauren's back to see us on Boxing Day. Then they'll head back to ours for a few more days. So it'll be our first Christmas Day without Lauren with us - and (despite my bottom lip trembling a bit!) I'm trying to be big and brave about it! All part of our children 'growing up' I suppose!

Anyway, I hope you have some nice things planned for Christmas and the New Year, and manage to squeeze in some crafting time too.

This card is one made for a friend to give to her daughter - and she said she loved cute! Well, there's not much cuter than the Wee Stamps images

The image has been coloured with copics and graphits with plenty of added glitter! 

The backing papers are from LOTV with gingham and Christmas ribbon from stash, together with a snowflake charm and wooden star. The sentiment tags are from LOTV.

I hope to have some time to relax and visit Blogland over the next few days! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

A Gem of a challenge - anything Christmas

Chocolate, Coffee Cards - Christmas

Brown Sugar - Christmas

Fussy & Fancy - snowflakes and ribbon

Graph It - festive wishes

Winter Wonderland - fussy and fancy

Busy with Christmas!

Hello all and I hope your weekend has been going well? A lovely frosty start and crisp winter sunshine yesterday - and grey clouds and rainy today! Sigh. Think I prefer the frosty one lol!

I've been busy trying to get the last few Christmas cards finished and written - and have kept repeating the mantra to myself that I must start making my Christmas cards earlier next year so that I don't have a last minute panic! I seem to have so many ideas, stamps, papers, etc., and then nowhere near enough time to do all the ones I have to do! I think the problem is that I find it hard to get inspired for Christmas creations when the sun is shining and the weather is still warm!  Anyway, I thought I'd share a couple of the 'quick' cards I've been doing - although when I start playing with papers, etc., the process is never that quick....

This one uses papers from LOTV and a sentiment stamp from Chocolate Baroque. The 'stitching' stamp is also from LOTV. The ribbon, snowflake charm and bell are from stash - and yes, the card does actually 'tinkle'! 

This card also uses the LOTV papers, with the LOTV recipe stamps. I've added some distress inks, ribbon from stash and a sentiment stamp from Chocolate Baroque.

So quite simple cards, but I think they look ok.

I'm also busy crocheting (never enough hours in a day...) making a bag to order and I also made some cute stripy wristwarmers and sent them down to my daughter as I know she always likes to be snuggled up warm! 

I've used some scraps of Stylecraft dk wool, and added a scallop edge to the top.

Very difficult to photograph one-handed whilst you're trying to pose a hand in a glove lol! But I've got a pair too, and I have to say they are cosy warm - and I can still use my phone or find things in my bag! 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the remainder of your weekend and that you're a bit more organised for Christmas than me. Although Poppy the Cat is enjoying having the tree up - it's definitely good for hiding under and giving baubles an occasional bat! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Last Minute Christmas Challenge!

Hello all, I hope your week has been going well - and you're not suffering too much with the winter weather! Gales here for a couple of days, but calmer today - but icy! Thank you for all your good wishes about my cold lol! It's feeling a little better so I'm hoping I'm over the worst of it - at least the continuous sneezing and watering eyes have eased off!  And it's not a good thing feeling under the weather at this time of year when there seems to be a continuous list of 'Things to Do'!  And on that theme, the last challenge for 2014 from the Crafty Catz Challenge is 'Last Minute Christmas'! The challenge is hosted this week by the lovely Jac, and she would like to see your "late makes" for Christmas.  Our sponsors this week are the fabulous Kenny K and Make it Crafty and I've used a Make It Crafty digi stamp for my 'make'

I've been making quite a few of these tea-light boxes and gifts for orders and when I had a couple of craft fairs, and they've seemed to be popular, so I thought I'd make another and use the digi image for a special tag to go with it! 

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers and added a good sprinkling of glamour dust glitter (some of which you can see on the black background lol!).

Do pop over to the CraftyCatz challenge and have a look at the fabulous makes from our DT and then join in our challenge with your Last Minute Christmas!  And as I mentioned, this is our last challenge for 2014 - although we'll be back in the New Year! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Warm Winter Wishes!

Well I can certainly confirm that Christmas is on it's way - because I have developed a stinky cold! I feel that it's almost a tradition now that I either get a cold just before Christmas (when things are getting so busy with endless lists, jobs to do, etc.) or I start with one on Christmas Eve which then kindly stays with me for the festive period, ensuring that my "relaxing, family time" is punctuated by sneezes, coughs, nose-blowing and watering eyes. Deep Joy. Understandably at work I'm being given a wide berth by colleagues - in between smirks at my croaking voice and ridiculously girlie sneezes that I seem to do. And it's not much better at home, with helpful comments from husband that with the husky voice, I sound like I should be working for a dodgy chatline - although as I pointed out, how would he know what a chatline sounds like? Only Grumpy Poppy the cat is coming near me - and that's only because she either wants to pinch my warm seat on the sofa whenever I get up, or try to sit on the laptop (whilst I'm typing!). Sigh.

Anyway, less of the moaning! I'm dosed up on cold remedies and hot drinks and determined to shake it off as soon as possible lol.  Far too much to do at this time of year to be feeling sorry for myself!

Another Christmas card to share with you today, using a gorgeous image from Mo Manning,

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers (and, for once, a Christmas card with NO glitter lol!)

The backing paper is from LOTV with some added stitching. The sentiment stamp is from Chocolate Baroque and I've added a wooden star and gingham ribbon. And apologies for the slightly askew snowflake stamped onto it - I can only blame the cold germs lol! 

I hope you are keeping well and cold-free - and that your preparations for the festive season are running smoothly.

I'll be back soon, but for now I'll sign off with a sneeze and a cough lol! 

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

CraftyCardmakers - Christmas

Stamp and Create - Christmas

That Craft Place - Christmas

Frosty the snowman...

Good morning - and huge apologies, because I'm SO late in posting my DT card for CraftyCatz! This should have gone on my blog yesterday, but it turned out to be "one of those days"! Needless to say, that'll teach me that it would be more sensible to schedule it in lol!

Anyway, there is a new challenge over at CraftyCatz - and this week our lovely Christine has challenged us to 'use a snowman'.  I've used a cute image from our sponsor Bugaboo

Aren't they a cute pair? I've coloured the image with copics and added some glamour dust glitter - no snowman would be complete without a bit of twinkle! 

The backing papers are from LOTV. I've added some pompom trim, brad and ribbon from stash. The fence is a DooHickey die 'lovely fence' and the sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque.

Do pop over and see all the lovely snowmen the DT have produced at CraftyCatz and then join us with your very own snowman! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

Some baby crochet

Hello all - I hope that you had a good weekend?  A usual busy one here, and a craft fair yesterday. This went ok, although it could have been a bit busier! Mind you, we had clear blue skies and lovely winter sunshine, so I can't blame people if they were out enjoying the day lol!

I had the pleasure this evening of delivering a baby blanket that I had made to order. When I did a craft fair a couple of weeks ago, a lady wanted a baby blanket in the ripple stripe but in mixed baby colours - it was to be for her sister who was due to have a baby soon but they didn't know if it would be a boy or girl! That's the joy of having one "made to order"! You can pick the pattern, size and colours!  Anyway, I had completed this and delivered it today and I'm pleased to say that she was thrilled with it - I just hope her sister is as well when she receives it!  But I thought I'd share a few pics of what has been keeping me busy lately (apart from crocheted Christmas stockings and making Christmas cards!)

As you can see, I picked a selection of 'baby' shades of wool, with a few brighter shades mixed in as well.  But it's SO hard to do 'random' stripes of colour, so I'm hoping I achieved something near it! 

I added a 'shell' shaped edging to the blanket, which is cot/pram size, to finish it off. It was a pleasure to make and I'm just hoping that the new mum likes it too.  At least she'll know that it's unique lol! 

And I've got another couple of projects on the go now to keep me busy. I think the crochet hook has to be surgically removed from me every evening!  So many hobbies, so little time....

In between the list of things I need to be getting on with, I promise to make some time this week to try and catch up with everyone's blogs. Thank you so much for all your lovely comments, they really mean so much. And a very warm welcome to the new followers - I'm so pleased that you like my crafty creations enough to want to follow me! 

I hope you enjoy your week - whatever you have planned.

Back soon,

Kim x 

Christmas in different colours!

Hello all - how has your week been? I hope you have something good to look forward to this weekend. I'm busy getting things ready for a craft fair on Sunday - and then after that I'm hoping I can start to concentrate on getting my own Christmas cards ready!

As it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz and this week is everyone's favourite - 'Anything Goes' - hosted by our lovely "BlogLeader" Carol! And this week the team are also looking for a Guest DT member for 3 months from January - if you'd like to join the friendliest DT in Blogland, then just add 'GDT' after your name on your entry.

I've used a Wee Stamps image for my card - and some non-traditional Christmas colours lol!

I've coloured the image with copics and a little pencil, and added lots of glamour dust sparkle! 

The papers are from LOTV, as are the sentiment tags (I'm getting a bit predictable using these on my cards - note to self: try and use some other sentiments! lol!)

I've added some stitching, a spotty organza bow with berries from stash, and die cut holly leaves using a Joanna Sheen die.  The snowflakes were die cut with a Tattered Lace die.

Hope you like it. And I hope you'll join us over at CraftyCatz with your creation - and remember, "Anything Goes"! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:-

Creative Knockouts - all that glitters

Milk Coffee Challenge - lots of embellishments

Crafting by designs - fairies

Crafting for all seasons - tis the season

Digistamps 4 joy - Christmas

Clear it out - winter wishes + snowflake (stash items are ribbon & berries)

Christmas shopping....

Hello all and I hope that you've been having a good week? Thank you for all your good wishes and I'm definitely feeling a lot better (and a lot less grouchy!). A rather busy one here as I'm doing another craft fair on Sunday, so frantically busy crocheting the mini Christmas stockings as they were so popular last time, along with the crocheted baby blanket that was ordered! I'll share some pics soon. This is a fair in a nearby village and I'm hoping that the weather stays fine and there's a good turnout - even if I don't sell much, it's nice to chat to people and see other stalls.

But today is my last card as part of my November slot as a guest DT member at the C.R.A.F.T. challenge and I'd like to thank the DT there for having me as their guest! The theme for this week is 'Christmas Present' and there are prizes from Hope Jacare, Bugaboo, QKR and Scribbles designs. I've used a Bugaboo digi stamp for my card with the fabulous Stella looking as happy as ever!

I just love that attitude - I think I may look like this later as I'm heading out this evening to do some late night Christmas shopping - sigh!

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers and added some sparkle

The backing papers are from LOTV (as are the sentiment tags - I think I'd be a bit lost without LOTV sentiment tags lol!). The die cut presents were using a Sizzlits die with some ribbon threaded through.

Hope you like it - even if you don't like Christmas shopping! 

Do pop over to C.R.A.F.T. and see the fab inspiration from the DT and then join in with your 'Christmas Presents' creations.

Back soon,

Kim x 

No crafting today (well, not with paper!)

Just a quick post from me today - and not a crafting one! I've been getting so fed up with myself not feeling too good (I'm not a very good nurse, but a specially rubbish patient!) that I've been growling a bit at everyone! One of my best friends rang me today and said "It's a lovely day, come for a walk with me and the dogs for an hour and we'll have a coffee" which was probably just what I needed. So I donned the fleece and boots and had a relaxing walk in our local park in the gorgeous autumn sunshine and we stopped for a yummy coffee in the little cafe there. And here's a pic of me (always a rare occasion!) with the beautiful Monty, my friend Sarah's fabulous Newfoundland - she was walking her 15 month old 'puppy' Merlin (who is nearly the same size and about 65kg!).

As you can see, he's a rather imposing size of dog - and attracts a good deal of attention from passers-by. In fact, when you're out with them it can all take on the feel of being a circus side-show, with a continual stream of people pointing and taking pics! I thought it was rather funny (although unplanned!) that we had a 'visitor attraction' sign just behind us lol! We had just had a group of about 6 people all stroking the dogs, asking questions, etc.! But it was so nice to have a dog with me to walk again and a dog-lead in my hand - I do miss Tilly the Dog so much! She used to love going out with Monty and could run straight underneath him lol!

So, feeling a bit more cheerful by the time I arrived home, I headed to the kitchen to do the other activity that relaxes me so much - baking! With some music on the radio to hum along to, I produced us some shortbread and cherry scones - which have been sampled by husband and son!

I hope you've managed to have a relaxing Sunday - although I really must get on with some card orders and crochet orders now!

Back soon,

Kim x 

A wintry theme

How's your week been? Hope you've had a good one, whatever you've been doing. Thank you for all your good wishes about the ear infection - and apologies for my moaning! I'm just taking the antibiotics as instructed and hoping that over the weekend it improves.

Anyway, as it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Catz and this week our lovely Dianne has given us the challenge of a "Winter Theme" - although in the UK our wintry weather at the moment isn't too bad, not like the severe snowstorms in part of the US!  Our sponsor at Crafty Catz this week is Sami Stamps and I've used one of their digi stamps 'Snowflake Feathers' for my card

I've coloured the image with promarkers, but I really must get a better range of lilac and purple colours - does anyone recommend any copic or Graphit ones? 

The papers and sentiment tag stamps are from LOTV. I've used textured silver card which I think gives a slightly softer effect than mirri card.  The snowflakes were die cut with a Tattered Lace die, with gems from stash and some pearl droplets. 

Hope you like it.

Do have a look at the gorgeous wintry creations from my fellow DT members over at CraftyCatz and then join in our Winter challenge.

Back soon,

Kim x 

An inspiration!

Hello all and I hope that you're having a good week? The usual sort of busy one here, but feeling a bit grotty at the moment as seem to have a rotten ear infection - AGAIN! So yet more antibiotics (which I hate taking but nothing else will get rid of it!). Deaf in one ear and limited in the other - and being subjected to the usual jokes at home from husband and son (the usual ones along the lines of "Pardon?" every time I say anything, or moving lips pretending to talk! Not funny at the moment!). Sigh.  So fingers crossed that it clears soon - I don't like feeling so unwell!

Anyway, less of my moaning.  It's time for a new challenge over at C.R.A.F.T. challenge where I've been joining them as a Guest DT for November.  There are prizes on offer from Spyders Other Corner, Flonzcraft and Lacy Sunshine stamps and I've used a Lacy Sunshine stamp called Tabbi Boo

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers. 

The background paper is from K&Co and I've used a Poppystamps leaf die. The sentiment is from LOTV. 

There is an inspiration picture challenge this week and I used the colours and patterns as my inspiration.

Do pop over to the C.R.A.F.T. challenge and have a look at the great inspiration from the DT - and then join in with your crafty makes! 

Back soon,

Kim x 

A craft fair!

Hello all and I hope that you enjoyed your weekend - and managed to find some relaxation time too! A busy weekend here (yet again!) as I did a craft fair with my friend yesterday in the wonderful surroundings of the Winter Gardens in Morecambe, a glorious old theatre that is currently undergoing restoration work. It was sadly closed for many years and deteriorated badly, but has had a dedicated team trying to raise funds to restore it. Although it is still a Work In Progress, it's a beautiful old traditional theatre inside, with stained glass windows, and so much atmosphere. I haven't been inside the building since I was about 10 years old (a long time ago lol!) so it was a treat to see how it is.

But it was quite busy, with lots of stalls selling all sorts of different crafts and creations. I had a good chat with lots of nice people, and sold quite a few of the little crocheted stockings amongst other things! A couple of other crochet things I took along with me for the stall were some crochet brooches

and garlands with little crocheted stars on!

And a few photos of the stall (and one of me and my friend Melanie - I'm the one on the right trying to avoid having a photo taken!)

And time now to get on with some orders for crocheted goodies and a baby blanket! At least it all keeps me busy and out of mischief lol. 

Thanks for looking, 

Kim x 

Christmas is coming...

Sorry - but it's starting to get unavoidable now. Once the Christmas ads have started to appear (loving Monty the penguin on the John Lewis one by the way!), and the glitter comes out in the craft room! And I just saw on one of those signs on Facebook that Christmas is 41 days away.....  It's getting nearer!

So, with the Christmas theme in mind, the new challenge over at CraftyCatz this week is (you've guessed it!) "Christmas is Coming" - hosted by our lovely Nina.  Our sponsor this week is Rick St Dennis and I've used a digi from them 'Winter Friends'

I've coloured the image with promarkers and added some glitter! 

The papers are from LOTV and I've used a Joanna Sheen signature die for the holly leaves. The berries and ribbon are from stash.

Do pop over to see the fabulous DT makes at Crafty Catz - and then join us with your festive creations.

Back soon,

Kim x

A new Christmas challenge

Hello all and it's time for a new challenge over at C.R.A.F.T. challenge where I'm a Guest DT member for November! This week the challenge is a nice easy seasonal one - Christmas! There are four sponsor prizes this week from Stitchy Bear, Sweet & Sassy, the Stamping chef and Yours & Mine Papercraft!

I've used a Sweet n Sassy image for my card

The papers are from Docrafts and LOTV, with lots of distress inks

I've coloured the image with copic, promarkers and pencil. The sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque.

So do pop over to C.R.A.F.T.http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ and have a look at the fab inspiration from the DT and then join in with your Christmassy crafting!

Back soon,

Kim x 

A card or a gift? Or both?

Hello all and I hope that you've been having a good week? It's been a busy one here, friends visiting, getting stuff ready for a craft fair on Sunday, together with all the usual work and home stuff too! At least I haven't got time to be bored lol!  But I feel very guilty about my fellow bloggers - because I am failing miserably at the moment with visiting everyone's blogs, and I do miss seeing what everyone has been up to! So I will try to make an effort over the next few days to have a nosey round Blogland and get back up to date with crafty goodies.

Just a quick make to share with you today, as I thought I'd make a few of these for the craft fair. I think it's probably a cross between a card and a little gift really

I've used Docrafts christmas papers, with plenty of distress ink! The poinsettia is a Spellbinder die and a Tonic star punch along the edge. The lettering is using AllOccasions dies. 

There is a little tutorial for how to make these that I posted on my blog a while ago - link is HERE if you fancy trying one too! 

And to add to a busy week, we also had an extra visitor at teatime the other day - 

This little chap was (literally) on the front door step when I got home from work on Monday! So I brought him in, and after he'd had a warm in the cat basket and a meal of chicken cat food we took him to the hoggy rescue!  Apparently he's doing well, a little hoggy about 8 weeks old - so cute!

Anyway, I'll be back soon,

Kim x